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“Instagram vs Reality” Exposes The Truth About Those Unrealistically “Perfect” Pics
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“Instagram vs Reality” Exposes The Truth About Those Unrealistically “Perfect” Pics

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We all know that most people share an idealized version of themselves on social media, cherry-picking only the best images, thoughts, and experiences to share with the world. But some Instagram celebrities have taken this concept to the extreme, creating Instagram vs reality versions of themselves. 

They bombard their followers with photoshopped images that are so far from reality that they can sow seeds of doubt in some people’s minds, leading them to strive for an unrealistic body image at great cost to their self-esteem and mental health.

Those “perfect” celebrity pics you see on Instagram are far from the casual snaps they appear to be

Image credits: lowkeykathyyyy

Hours of make-up, flattering poses and all kinds of editing take place before the “everyday” shot is uploaded onto social media

Image credits: nokia621

Instagram vs Reality Trend Comes to the Rescue

Luckily, some people see the problem in this and are trying to uncover the fakery that goes on behind the scenes of infamous Instagram photos. Previously, we featured Swiss blogger the_truth_is_not_pretty, who posts honest, real images side-by-side with ones that have been given the ‘Instagram treatment.’ This time, Bored Panda has an amusing and quite shocking “Instagram vs Reality” funny video by YouTube star Ethan Klein, who exposes the ugly truth of fake Instagram pictures behind some of the more famous influencers.

“I can’t get over the difference! Don’t believe what you see on Instagram folks”

Image credits: ohhithere21

Delivered with his usual comedic flair, Ethan skewers the obvious trickery that some of these influencers get up to on a regular basis in their Instagram posts. It all goes to show that everything you see online has to be taken with a pinch of salt, and under no circumstances should you compare yourself unfavorably to these people. They aren’t what they want you to think they are!

“Excuse me what…”

Image credits: runescape_girlfreind

“One for the boys out here. Magazines are just an illusion”

Image credits: Instagramreality

Why Do We Enjoy Reality vs Instagram Photos?

Away from the buffed and polished images we are presented with daily, it can actually be refreshing to see the human side of the famous people we admire. Social media initially gave us this opportunity to look behind the curtain. Sadly, though, most social media accounts of celebrities are now run by teams of advisors and managers who don’t allow anything to be shown unless it has been carefully vetted first.

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Image credits: unknown

Image credits: unknown

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While we admire, respect, and even idolize some celebrities, setting high expectations for ourselves, we somehow crave reassurance that they are human, too. It helps us to relate to them on a deeper level. Magazines with headlines screaming “Cameron Diaz without Make-Up” or “Beyonce’s Acne Problem” always sell well because they give people a little peek behind the perfectly-curated curtain of an Instagram filter vs reality. Still, perhaps it would be easier if there was less fakery, illusion, and lies in the first place.

Image credits: unknown

If you’ve doubted yourself because of the seemingly perfect things you’ve seen on social media, watch the video below to see how Instagram vs reality body images distort our perception of ourselves. Share this article with your friends so that more people can see through the fakery and start appreciating their image!

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Watch the full video below

Video credits: h3h3Productions

“A campaign photo for Good American. You’d expect Photoshop, but possibly at a more professional level”

Image credits: Imadadjoke

Image credits: tinysighs

Image credits: unknown

“Lips fillers Insta vs Paparazzi”

Image credits: Instagramreality

“Coachella, the content farm”

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Image credits: Instagramreality

“Instagrammers are ruining California’s super bloom”

Image credits: unknown

“Kylie Jenner (same day on Instagram vs. on TV)”

Image credits: nokia621

Image credits: biccabong

Image credits: paklowpanda

“That moment when your eyebrow glitches through your hat”

Image credits: Eddy_Wapp_

“Body so hot the Colosseum and the fence gets distorted”

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Image credits: RadAway-

“Melania Trump’s official White House portrait”

Image credits: nokia621

“Calf day was clearly not on the schedule”

Image credits: Hlokty10

Image credits: mykidzRbad

“Wait, are we ashamed of our hand lines now? Nobody told me? I’ve been showing them in public like a total chump!”

Image credits: unknown

“Who are these people”

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Image credits: _cockgobblin_

“Makeup artist highlights what facetune really can do”

Image credits: savannah098

“Instagram vs. Youtube”

Image credits: LonelyFleur

“Make sure your friends are Photoshopping too”

Image credits: anonymousnosy

“I’m 29 and until I found this sub I thought the “no pore look” was just excellent makeup I feel silly now, but also relieved”

Image credits: lazerbrownies

“Instagram picture vs. interview two weeks apart”

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Image credits: shane-jabroni

“Her own Instagram vs. Tagged photo… It was untagged real quick”

Image credits: damnwhatanasshole

“Face lost 20 kgs?”

Image credits: kyliesuicidie

Image credits: unknown user

Image credits: mdk15

“Instagram vs. Red carpet”

Image credits: unknown

“I always was so jealous of her”

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Image credits: unknown

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James Caunt

James Caunt

Author, Community member

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James is a Bored Panda reporter who graduated with a BA in Peace And Conflict Studies and an MA in African Affairs. Before Bored Panda, he was an English teacher and also travelled a lot, doing odd jobs from beer-slinging to brickie's labourer and freelance journalism along the way. James loves covering stories about social and environmental issues and prefers to highlight the positive things that unite us, rather than petty internet squabbles about fictional characters. James is the grumpy, contradictory one who thinks that Bored Panda, due to its large audience, has a social responsibility to inspire and inform its readers with interesting issues and entertaining, well-researched stories. Let's do our bit to make our little corner of the internet a smarter, more truthful and less angry place!

Read less »
James Caunt

James Caunt

Author, Community member

James is a Bored Panda reporter who graduated with a BA in Peace And Conflict Studies and an MA in African Affairs. Before Bored Panda, he was an English teacher and also travelled a lot, doing odd jobs from beer-slinging to brickie's labourer and freelance journalism along the way. James loves covering stories about social and environmental issues and prefers to highlight the positive things that unite us, rather than petty internet squabbles about fictional characters. James is the grumpy, contradictory one who thinks that Bored Panda, due to its large audience, has a social responsibility to inspire and inform its readers with interesting issues and entertaining, well-researched stories. Let's do our bit to make our little corner of the internet a smarter, more truthful and less angry place!

Marisha Kazaryan

Marisha Kazaryan

Author, Community member

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I knew I wanted to be a storyteller ever since I learned to read and write. Fulfilled this dream when I became a content creator and a filmmaker. Also got a degree in English language and literature because grammar is important! Good coffee and good music make everything better. When I’m not telling stories, you’ll find me studying foreign languages (currently, Korean), fangirling over my guinea pig Pepperboy, watching TV shows, and learning to play the drums.

Read less »

Marisha Kazaryan

Marisha Kazaryan

Author, Community member

I knew I wanted to be a storyteller ever since I learned to read and write. Fulfilled this dream when I became a content creator and a filmmaker. Also got a degree in English language and literature because grammar is important! Good coffee and good music make everything better. When I’m not telling stories, you’ll find me studying foreign languages (currently, Korean), fangirling over my guinea pig Pepperboy, watching TV shows, and learning to play the drums.

Karolina Wv

Karolina Wv

Author, Community member

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This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

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Karolina Wv

Karolina Wv

Author, Community member

This lazy panda forgot to write something about itself.

What do you think ?
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Ssss
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm glad I saw this. I know a lot of what's out there is fake but I didn't realise the extent of the fakery I was seeing across multiple platforms. Everyone needs to see this

Stina Kolling
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Agreed. At 40 years old, I;ve been in search of that perfect "poreless" look that foundation commercials show off for decades. I had no idea... I feel like a fool.

Load More Replies...
Biljana Malesevic
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why would you want to look like blow up doll? On these overbrushed photos they look like aliens, best case scenario, like blow up dolls at worst.

Petra Christovová
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sometimes less is more. Only a bit of make-up is mostly enough for a good and natural look. When it is overdone it makes this unnatural alien appearance.

Load More Replies...
B
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why do people even want to look so wonky and fake? Nobody seems happy to just be themselves anymore. :(

AlphaPuck
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because its a competition. Women compete against each other all the time. Ever wonder why Dad bod is a thing? Mostly because men know and can call out the unrealistic body image that is attempted to be forced on us. We dont have time for that s**t. Exercise and eat good... thats it. No gym rats or reps reps reps. Meanwhile, women seem to have zero ability to call b******t where it is. The ONLY reason why this stuff becomes so prevalent is women keep giving attention to these fakers. Stop following them, looking at their posts, and buying their products. If you do that, they go away.

Load More Replies...
Load More Comments
Ssss
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm glad I saw this. I know a lot of what's out there is fake but I didn't realise the extent of the fakery I was seeing across multiple platforms. Everyone needs to see this

Stina Kolling
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Agreed. At 40 years old, I;ve been in search of that perfect "poreless" look that foundation commercials show off for decades. I had no idea... I feel like a fool.

Load More Replies...
Biljana Malesevic
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why would you want to look like blow up doll? On these overbrushed photos they look like aliens, best case scenario, like blow up dolls at worst.

Petra Christovová
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Sometimes less is more. Only a bit of make-up is mostly enough for a good and natural look. When it is overdone it makes this unnatural alien appearance.

Load More Replies...
B
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why do people even want to look so wonky and fake? Nobody seems happy to just be themselves anymore. :(

AlphaPuck
Community Member
5 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Because its a competition. Women compete against each other all the time. Ever wonder why Dad bod is a thing? Mostly because men know and can call out the unrealistic body image that is attempted to be forced on us. We dont have time for that s**t. Exercise and eat good... thats it. No gym rats or reps reps reps. Meanwhile, women seem to have zero ability to call b******t where it is. The ONLY reason why this stuff becomes so prevalent is women keep giving attention to these fakers. Stop following them, looking at their posts, and buying their products. If you do that, they go away.

Load More Replies...
Load More Comments
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